Softwr

Software · head to head

REST Client VSCode vs Insomnia

REST Client VSCode logo

REST Client VSCode

Software

VSCode extension for making HTTP requests and testing REST APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Insomnia logo

Insomnia

Software

REST and GraphQL API client for development and testing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: REST Client VSCode limited to Visual Studio Code; not available as a standalone application; Insomnia git Sync on the free tier covers up to 3 users only
  • They diverge on capability: REST Client VSCode covers REST Client, Insomnia covers REST API Client.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which REST Client VSCode and Insomnia actually diverge.

Attributes where REST Client VSCode and Insomnia differ
AttributeREST Client VSCodeInsomnia
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, MacOS, Linux, Web
Founded20162010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in REST Client VSCode

  • REST Client
  • HTTP requests
  • Response viewing
  • VSCode
  • Environment variables
  • Custom headers
  • VSCode extension support

Only in Insomnia

  • REST API Client
  • GraphQL Support
  • gRPC Support
  • GitHub
  • GitLab
  • Slack
  • Windows support
  • MacOS support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

REST Client VSCode

  • API Developmentnot Insomnia
  • API Gatewaynot Insomnia
  • API Testingnot Insomnia
  • API Documentationnot Insomnia
  • Microservicesnot Insomnia

Insomnia

  • Sending and debugging HTTP, GraphQL and gRPC requestsnot REST Client VSCode
  • Storing collections in Git rather than a vendor cloudnot REST Client VSCode
  • Mocking an API endpoint before it existsnot REST Client VSCode
  • Running collections in CI with the Inso CLInot REST Client VSCode
  • Environment management across staging and productionnot REST Client VSCode

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

REST Client VSCode

  • Limited to Visual Studio Code; not available as a standalone application
  • No support for WebSocket, gRPC, or other advanced protocols
  • No cloud sync or team server features; requires Git-based workflow

Insomnia

  • Git Sync on the free tier covers up to 3 users only
  • Mock servers are capped at 1,000 requests a month on free, then $10 per 25,000
  • Role-based access control requires Pro at $12 per user per month
  • SSO, SCIM and vault integrations are Enterprise only at $45 per user per month
  • Working without an account is limited to the local-only Scratch Pad

Pricing, plan by plan

REST Client VSCode

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the REST Client VSCode review.

Insomnia

Free
  • FreeFree
    • REST, GraphQL, gRPC support
    • Local data
  • Pro$5/monthly
    • Cloud sync
    • Team collaboration
    • Advanced features
  • Team$30/monthly
    • Team management
    • Advanced analytics
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose REST Client VSCode if

  • You need rest client.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want http requests.
REST Client VSCode review

Choose Insomnia if

  • You need rest api client.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Web.
  • You also want graphql support.
Insomnia review

Questions people ask

Is REST Client VSCode or Insomnia better?
Neither clearly leads. REST Client VSCode starts at Free and Insomnia at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, REST Client VSCode or Insomnia?
REST Client VSCode starts at Free and Insomnia at Free.
Does REST Client VSCode or Insomnia run on more platforms?
REST Client VSCode runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Insomnia runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Web.
Can I use REST Client VSCode for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is REST Client VSCode best used for?
REST Client VSCode is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what Insomnia is typically brought in for.
What can REST Client VSCode do that Insomnia cannot?
REST Client VSCode covers REST Client, HTTP requests, Response viewing, VSCode. Insomnia covers REST API Client, GraphQL Support, gRPC Support, GitHub.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

REST Client VSCode: How much does REST Client VSCode cost?

REST Client VSCode is completely free and open source. It is available on the Visual Studio Code Marketplace with no subscription or licensing fees.

Source
REST Client VSCode: What authentication methods does REST Client support?

REST Client supports Basic Auth, Digest Auth, SSL certificates, Azure AD, and AWS Signature v4 authentication for API requests.

Source
REST Client VSCode: Can I save and manage multiple requests?

Yes. REST Client supports multiple requests per file using ### delimiters, request history with auto-save, environment variables for different configurations, and code snippet generation for multiple programming languages.

Source
REST Client VSCode: How do teams collaborate with REST Client?

REST Client requests are stored as text files that can be version-controlled in Git repositories. Teams collaborate by sharing requests through Git, making the API specs part of the codebase.

Source
REST Client VSCode: What protocols does REST Client support?

REST Client primarily supports HTTP/HTTPS and GraphQL. It does not support WebSocket, gRPC, or other advanced protocols available in desktop clients like Insomnia.

Source
REST Client VSCode: Is there cloud sync for REST Client requests?

No. REST Client has no built-in cloud sync or team server features. All collaboration and sharing relies on Git repository management.

Source
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on REST Client VSCode

More on Insomnia

Keep looking

Other head to heads